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(Mode1.)

J. HANCOCK & L. RICHARDS.

SWIVEL FOR WATCH CHAINS.

No. 266,620. Patented Oct. 31, 1882.

WITNEEEEEI INVENTDHE fig f 4% J N TERi Phmwumn n nur. washingwn. n. C.

JOHN HANCOCK AND LEVI RICHARDS, OF PROVIDENCE,

NHE STATES rerun.

PATENT RHODE ISLAND.

SWIVEL FOR WATCH-CHAINS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JOHN HANCOCK and LEVI RICHARDS, of the city and county of Providence, in the State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Swivels for Watch-Chains; and we declare the following to be a specification thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

Like letters indicate like parts.

Figure l is a front elevation of our invention; Figs. 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 are detail views. Fig. 7 is a side elevation of our improved swivel, showing the bow withdrawn from the locking-plate during revolution.

Our invention relates to that class of swivels which are used to fasten the ring of a watch to a watch-chain; and it consists of a revolving how loosely pivoted upon a stem which extends through the swivel-head, and which is locked in position by being drawn into a socket by means of a spring inclosed in the swivelhead, which spring also secures in place the ring of the swivel, as hereinafter more fully specified.

The bow A is made of a straight piece of stock, perforated and bent at its two ends 00 w, as shown in Fig. 2, and loosely riveted through both ends to the stem B, thus allowing its free rotation upon said stem. The bow is cut transversely on one side thereof, as indicated at a in Figs. 1 and 2, leaving the major part of the how free to rotate in either direction, while the minor part remains stationary, as shown in Fig. 7. At the opposite end of the stem B is a transverse bore, I), extending from side to side.

The swivel-head which heretofore has been commonly constructed in one piece, consists of three parts in addition to the stem, which extends through them. The top piece, C, is in the form of a cylindrical cap, of which a top View and side elevation are separately shown in Fig. 3. It has a rectangular slot, 0, which serves to lock the base a: of the bow A when said how has been drawn down into said slot by the spring, as hereinafter described. The center piece, D, is shown in Fig. a partly in elevation and partly in vertical section. At its upper or larger end it has an internal shoulder, (1, to furnish a bearing for the spiral spring E, which partially appears in Fig. 4. The

October 31, 1 882.

(Model) third or bottom part is a cylindrical tube or ferrule, F, the upper or inner end of which enters within the bottom of the central aperture of the center piece, D, and furnishes a bearing upon that side for the spring E. At its outer end the ferrule F has upon one side a slot,f.

The ring G (shown in Fig. 6) has near one end thereof a square nick or notch, g, to lock the same in position.

The parts of our invention are put together as follows: The stem 13 is passed through the central apertures of the pieces 0 D F, and the spring E and the bore I) is then brought to the opening f of the ferrule F. The ring G is inserted in the bore 1), and its nick g engages with and locks on the inner edge of the slotf. The opposite end of the ring G is left free to enter the end link of the watch-chain, after which it is bent into place to lie flush with the exterior surface of the ferrule F, as shown in Fig. 1. As the contiguous ends of the several pieces C, D, and F are plane surfaces, they fit snugly together when held in contact and present the appearance of a single piece. This is due to the action of the spring E, which, having a fixed bearing on the shoulder d of the center D, crowds outwardly the ferrule F, which it lies against, and thus by virtue of the connection of said ferrule with the ring Gr pulls down the stem B, which in turn draws the bottom of the bow A into the locking-slot c of the cap C, whereby all the parts of the swivel are socurely held in position.

To operate the swivel-bow A, grasp the swivel-head firmly with the thumb and forefinger of one hand and the bow with the thumb and forefinger of the other hand. Draw them slightly apart, thus compressing the spring E and withdrawing the inner end of the bow from the locking-slot 0. Then by a quarterrevolution turn the bow into the position shown in Fig. 7. When the ring of the watch has been suspended within the bow turn the bow back a quarter of a revolution, and as soon as the end a: of the bow has been swung back into its former place the spring pulls it down into the locking-slot, where it is securely held from all displacement.

It will be seen that by this construction we avoid entirely the use of solder in the manufacture of our improved swivel. The use of solder, which has hitherto always been necessary, compels the repeated heatingof the stock and impairs the strength of the material. It would also destroy the temper of a spring previously inclosed in the swivel. To place the spring requirs a separate operation, which,

. tion.

It is obviously within our invention'if the spring should be placed in any exterior position to perform the same function, or it the rotating bow should be itself sprung into a lockin g plate or socket.

We claim as a novel and useful invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent-- 1. In a swivel, the nicked ring G, in combination with the slotted ferrule F, stem B, and spring E, operating to hold said ring in position, substantially as specified.

2. The improved swivel herein described, consisting of the bow A, stem B, locking-cap 0, center D, spring E, ferrule F, and ring G, constructed and combined substantially as shown, and for the purpose specified.

JOHN HANCOCK. LEVI RICHARDS. Witnesses:

WARREN R. PEROE, IDA P. Fos'rER. 

